Selective latching device



2 Sheets-Sheet III-.I m

K. H. LINDGREN SELECTIVE LATCHING DEVIQE Filed Nov. 14, 1927 March 12,1929.

IIIIIIllII/l r March 12, 1929. UNDGREN 1,704,946

' I SELECTIVE LATCHING DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 3ltlilllllhjzzy i Patented Mar. 12 1929.

UNITED STATES KNUTE H. LINDGREN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELECTIVE LATCHING- DEVICE.

Application filed November 14, 1927. Serial No. 232,969.

The present invention relates to selective latchingdevices and isparticularly concerned with the provision of a connecting device forenabling the opening or closing of the upper or remote sash by means ofactuating the lower sash.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a closurefastener which is adapted to form a selective one way connection betweenan upper and lower sash so that the upper sash may be moved to anyposition by means of the connection and by force applied to the lowersash.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel sashoperating system comprising two or more sashes movably mounted in awindow frame and connecting meansbetween said sashes whereby one sashwhich is provided with handles may be used selectively to actuate any ofthe other and more remote sashes to any adjusted position.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel selectiveconnection comprising a supporting member, a pair of engaging membersand common means for controlling either of said engaging members wherebyeither engaging member may be projected while the other is withdrawn.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully fromthe following description and from the accompanying drawings in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a windowequipped according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational View taken on the line 33 ofFig. 1 on an enlarged scale. 7

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my connecting device with a portion of thecover removed, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar plan view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a View in perspective of one of the engaging members or pawls.

Fig. 7 is another View in perspective of the engaging member or pawl.

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the actuating member. 7 r

Fig. 9 is a phantom view in perspective of the mechanism of my devicewith the guides in dotted lines, with the lower pawl projected.

Fig. 10 is a similar View with the parts in intermediate position, bothpawls being wit-hdrawn.

Fig. 11 is a similar view with the upper pawl projected.

Referrin to Figs. 3 to S, I have here shown the details of my connectingdevice indicated in its entirety at 10. The connecting device 10 mayconsist of a supporting plate 11 provided with a plurality of guides 12and 13 for the pawls or engaging members la and 15 and for the actuatingmember 16.

The plate 11 may consist of a substantially rectangular piece of sheetmetal having a (lownwardly extending attaching flange 17 formed at oneend with a counter-sunk aperture 18 for reception of a fastening screw19. The opposite end of the plate 11 is preferably formed with roundedcorners 20 to give a finished appearance and provided with a similarpair of counter-sunk apertures 21 for reception of other attachingscrews 22. If desired the attaching flange 17 may be elimi nated andscrew apertures provided in other portions of the plate but when used ona window sash I find that this construction provides an extremely rigidand dependable fastening means.

The supporting plate 11 may be provided at an intermediate point with anintegral chan nel or guide 13 formed by an upwardly extending flange 24,a flange 25 parallel to the plate. and a downwardly extending flange 26.

lVhile the guide 13 is thus made substantially rectangular incross-section, it is not necessarily so made and may be made of anynoncircular form adapted to slidably support the actuating member 16 inproper position.

The guide 12 may be formed by a second piece of sheet metal bent tosubstantially U shape, having an upwardly extending flange 27, a flange28 at substantially right angles to the first flange, and a downwardlyextending flange 29 substantially parallel to the flange 27. The flanges27 and 29 may be cut away to form aligned apertures 30 of suflicientsize so that the guide 12 may be placed over the guide 13 fittingclosely thereon and upon the plate 11. At the same time that portion ofthe flanges 24, 25 and 26 otthe guide 13 which is enclosed within theguide 12 may also be removed so that the interiors of the guides are incommunication witheachother. The

small upwardly projecting flange 32 of suiiicient size to enclose theend of the guide 12.

It will thus be observed that asimple and compact structureis providedhaving a pair of non-circular guides intersecting each other and adaptedto slidably support the actuating .member 16 and the pawls 14 and 15.These guides are transversely arranged relative to each other so thatthey intersect and the guide 12 for the pawls is made of greater depthin order to provide room for two pawls While the guide 13 need only beof suflicientsize to receive an actuating member 16, which in thepresent embodiment is preferably of substantially the same size as onepawl.

The pawls 14 and 15 may be identical in shape and size, being merelyreversed in position to perform alternately a similar func tion. Thusthe pawl 15 (Fig. 6) may consist of an elongated non-circular metalmember which is here made rectangular in order to fit within the guide12. The pawl 15may be substantially square in cross-section, beingturned down at one end to form a pin 33 for the reception of a spring 34and being provided at an intermediate point with a slot 35.

The slot 35 is of sufficient depth to receive half of the thickness ofthe actuating member 16, and it will thus be observed that when thepawls 14 and 15'are placed with their slots 35 opposing each other, anaperture is formed of suflicient depth'to receive the actuating member16.

The slots 35 may thus have a flat bottom 26, a wall 37, and a cammingsurface 38. The

camming surface 33 comprises a substantially smooth wall arranged at anangle to the axis of the pawl. The amount of this angle may depend uponthe relative ease with which it may be desired to actuate the pawls, andI have found it convenient to make the surface 38 at an angle of about45 degrees to the direction of motion of the pawl. The slot 35 thentapers from one side 39 to the opposite side'40, and the width of theslot at 39 must be sufficient so that the actuating member 16 can passthrough the slot. I

In the. present embodiment the forward ends of the pawls 14 and 15 arepreferably formed with a relatively sharp edge 41 on the same side asthe slot 35 with a cam'shaped surfa'ce'42 tapering from the edge 41 downtoward the "bottom or opposite sides of the pawl. The purpose of the camshaped end is to enable the pawl to be cammed inward by contact withshoulders on a metal strip 43, when the device is moved in onedirection, and'to also enable the pawl to engage such shoulders when thedevice is moved in the opposite direction. I desire it to be understood,however, that many of the advantages of my conn'ectlng dev1ce mayberealized without employing all of these details of construe tion, andwhere the pawls are not intended to ratchet over shoulders they may beformed withoutcam shaped ends.

The pawl 14 may be identical with the pawl 15 as previously described,being merely employed in inverted posit-ion asshown in Fig. 7,, and thepawls are placed with the slots 35 opposing each other so as to form anaperture adapted to receive the actuating size to fit upon the pins 33.The opposite end of the spring may bear against the wall 32 which formsthe end of the guide 12, thereby urging the pawls 14 and 15 to aposition where they project from the guide 12. The'location of the slots35 in the pawls 14 and 15 should be such that when the pawls are pushedback into the guide 12, the slots35 will register with the communicatingguide 13-.

The actuating member 16 may comprise a non-circular elongated metalmember which is here made substantially square in crosssection so as tobe slidably received in the guide 13 and the slots 35. The actuatingmember 16 is supported in the guide 13 by the lower wall 36 of the pawl15 and it is guided by the flanges 24, 25 and 26 of the lower plate.The-actuating member 16 is provided at its end'with a slot 44 which isof similar shape to the slots 35 and of suflicient depth to receive thatportion of the pawl which projects above the bottom 36 of the slots 35.That is, the depth of the slot 44 is substantially equal to the depth ofthe slot 35. The slot 44 is likewise providedwith a camming wall 45which may be at a 45 degree angle to the axis of the actuating member.As previously stated, the obliquity of this camm-ing wall will depend onthe strength of the springs and the ease with which it is desired toactuate the pawls. The slot 44 is also provided with a wall 46 which mabe perpendicular to the axis of the actuating member and it will thus beobserved that the slot 44 tapers in size from the side 47 to the side 48in a manner similar to the slot 35. The width of the slot 44 at th side47 is, however, not so great-as the thickness of the pawl, and it willthus be observed that while the actuating member may be slid through theaperture formed by the slots 35, the pawls cannot be freely passedthrough the space provided by the slot 44. The purpose of makin theseapertures smaller in size at the side 47 is that the point 49 willalways projectslightly into-the slot 35 of one of the pawls, and it willice be observed in Fig. 5 that the point 49 is thus in engagement withthe heel 50 of the camming surface 38. The actuating member 16 is alsoprovided with a slot 51 having a similar camming surface 52 of oppositeobliquity. The slot 51'is formed upon the opposite side of the actuatingmember 16 from the slot 44, but it also tapers from a narrow opening onthe side 53 to a wideropening at 54. It will thus be observed that theactuating member 16 is provided with a pair of cannning surfaces 45 and52 oppositely disposed, that is to say, facing in opposite directionsand also located on opposite sides of the actuating member.

The assembly of the foregoing parts may be accomplished as follows: Thesprings 34 and 35 may be placed upon the pins 33 and the pawls 14 and 15placed with their slotted sides opposing each other so that the slots 35form an aperture. The two pawls may then he slid into the guide 12 withthe springs 34 and 43 foremost and by pressing both pawls with thefinger until they are substantially within the guide, the apertureformed by the slots 35 will register with the guide 13. The actuatingmember may then be inserted from either end of the guide 13, dependingwhether it is desired to form a left hand device or a right hand device,as shown in Fig. 2. The same parts will perform the same functionswhether the actuating device be inserted from the left or from the rightbecause these parts are symmetrically formed. In the insertion of theactuating member the only essential thing is that the slots 44 and 51 beso disposed that the camming surfaces 45 and 52 respectively will beengaged by camining surfaces 38 on the pawls and the parts will then bein the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The operation of the foregoing parts is as follows: Referring to Fig. 4,upon pulling the actuating member 16 to the left the camming surface 52on the actuator will engage the camming surface 38 upon the pawl 15. Itshould be observed that the point 49 of the camming surface 52 neverpasses to the right out of engagement with the heel of the cammingsurface 38 because the slot 51 is narrower than the pawl an cl theopposite wall 54 of the slot performs the function of a stop member,striking against the pawl. Likewise the outward motion of the pawl 15 islimited by engagement of the point 49 with the heel of the cammingsurface 38 so that the spring 43 cannot force the pawl out-ward beyondthe position shown in F 3.

As has been already stated, pulling the actuator 16 to the left willcause the camming surfaces 52 and 38 to engage, drawing the pawl 15inward against the spring 43. During this time the upper pawl 14 hasbeen retained in the position shown in Fig.3 by engagement of the point49 of its cammingsurface with the side of the actuator above the slot51.

When the actuator has reached a position so that the solid portion 55 ofthe actuator registers with the pawls, both pawls are in the withdrawnposition, since the pawl 14 was already withdrawn and the pawl 15 hasjust been cammed back.

Further movement of the actuator 16 to the left in Fig. 4 will bring theslot 47 into registry with the guide 12, whereupon the camming surface38 will slide upward in Fig. 5 against the camming surface 45 and the Vpawl 14 will be forced out-ward by its spring 34. The outward motion ofthe pawl 14 is likewise limited by the engagement of the heel of thesurface 38 with the point 49 on the surface 45. Also further movement tothe left of the actuator 16 is limited by engagement of the wall 46 withthe point 49 of surface 38 on pawl 14.

The operation of these parts upon reverse movementof the actuator 16 issubstantially the same and when the actuator 16 is moved to the rightthe pawl 14 is drawn in and the pawl 15 is forced out. It should benoted that the actuator 16 performs the function of withdrawing thepawls while the springs 34 and 43 perform the function of forcing themout. Also when either pawl is in its outer position it is resilientlyheld by the spring but its inward motion is not obstructed by theactuator. Thus in Fig. 5 it will be evident that any pressure upon thepawl 15 will niere ly cause the heel 50 to recede from the point 49 ofthe actuator compressing the spring 34. Such inward motion is onlylimited by contact of the wall 37 with the point 49. It will thus beobserved that the pawls are at all times capable of being cammed inwardby engagement of the cam ends 42 with keepers or shoulders on the metalstrips 43.

The relative positions of the pawls and actuator during these movementsare more clearly shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. In 9 the lower pawl is inprojected position while the upper pawl is withdrawn; 10 shows the partsin intermediate positions with both pawls withdrawn, while Fig. 11 showsthe parts in the next position, the upper pawl having been projected.

My connecting device '10 is of particular importance when used incombination with a pair of window sashes as shown in F 1. Referring toFig. 1, 56 indicates in its entirety a window frame of any constructionhaving a pair of guides 5'7 and 58 for sli lably mounting an upper sash59 and a lower sash 60. The sashes are customarily separated by a windowstop 61 and provided with the usual fastening means consisting of akeeper 62 and a cam shaped member 63. My connecitl ing device 10 ispreferably mounted upon the lower sash, two of these devices beingemployed with the actuator 16 reversed so as to form right hand and lefthand devices 64 and 65. The plate 11 is secured to the upper edge lib)lit)

of the sash by aplurality of screws 19 and 22 and in such manner thatthe pawls let and 15 project suficiently from the outer upper edge ofthe lower sash to engage metal strips 43 ont-he upper sash.

The metal strips 43 comprise strips of sheet metal havin a plurality ofapertures 66 with flat upper. and bottom sides. While the apertures 66are shown substantially rectangular in form they are not necessarily so,and are so formed. in order that the upper edges 67 of the apertures mayform flat shoulders for engagement with the lower pawl 15 and the lowerwalls 68 may form fiat shoulders for engagement with the point of theupper pawl 14. The length of the strips 43 is governed by the range ofadjustment desiredand where the strips ext nd fronithe top to bottom ofthe upper sash, as in Fig. 1, the maximum range of adjustment isprovided.

In order to actuate both conne l devices at the same time, a lever 69 bepivotally mounted upon the same bolt which secures the fastener 63 and apair of-connecting rods 70 provided to connect said lever to theactuators 16. For this purpose the actuators 16 may be formed withthreaded bores 71 in their projecting ends and the connecting rods 70may consist of rods having th eaded ends as at 72. The lever 69 may beprovided with a pair of apertures 73 at one end and with a handle 7st atthe opposite end.- The opposite ends of the connecting rods from thosedescribed may be bent over at substantially right angles so as to bereceived in the aper-.

tures 73 of the lever 69.

at ill thus be observed that the connecting rods may be sprung upwardwith their ends out of engagement with the lever 69, after which I theconnecting rods may be threaded into the bores 71 of the actuators 16 toadj ust the length of the connecting rods to any desired value. 7

The operation of the foregoing assembly of elements is as follows. Whenthe lever 69 is moved to the left as shown in Fig. 2, the connectingrods 70 are moved to the right and the lower pawls 15 are both projectedto the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position the lower sash may beslid downwardly relative to the upper sash during which move ment thepawl 15 will snap over the shoulders 68 on'the strips 43. However if thelower sash is moved upward while the pawls are in this positior. thelower pawls 15 will enga e the shoulders 6'? and the upper sashwill bemoved up by merely pushing on the lower sash by means of the'handle 7 orotherwise.

'lVhen the lever 69 is moved toward the right from the position shown inFig. '2, the

connecting rods will be actuated to the left and the lower pawls will bewithdrawn. Vhen the lever 69 has reached aposition perpendicular to theplane of the window, both pawls will: be withdrawn but further move:ment of the lever 69 will move the actuators .16 to such position thatthe upper pawls l9 are projected. hen the pawls are in this position thelower sash may be moved upward relative to the upper sash and the pawl14 will snap over the shoulders 67. This is the proper positionof thepawlswhen it is deired to open tlieupper window.

In order to open the upper window the lower sasl i then raised until thelower window has reached an opening equivalent to that desired for theupper window. Duringthis motion the connecting devices 10 with theirpawls l l ratchet over the shoulders 67 until they reach the desiredpoint. The lower sash may then be pulled downwardly and the pawls 14will engage the shoulders 68 and draw the upper sash down with the lowersash. It will be evidentthat the upper sash may be opened to a pointequal to the previous opening of the lower sash or the operator may stopwith both sashes open.

It will thus be observed that I have provided ective connecting deviceby means of which an'upper or remotesash may be conveniently andselectivelyconnected to the lower sash in such manner that the uppersash is just easily controlled and moved to open position as the lowersash.

While 1 am aware that closure fasteners have been constructed for thepurpose of looking sashes together in open position, I am not aware thatany of these devicescan be employed to perform the present function forthe reason that none of them are adapted to exert a balanced force uponthe upper sash. For instance, if only one strip agand one connectingdevise 10 were employed at one side of the window after the manner ofthe locking devices of tlieprior art, the force exerted upon the uppersash by the lower sash would be unbalanced and would result in the uppersash binding in its guides. This is particularly true where the windowsare of any substantial width or where the sashes are of unusual weight.7

While l have'illustrated my connecting device in connection with aclosure fastener, I

desire'it to be understood that I consider my invention of generalapplication and capable of many other'uses.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of myinvention many modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention, and I do not. wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of allchanges withinthe scopeof the appended claims. 7 7 Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is: Y

1. In a closure device, the combination of a V window frame with a pairof sashes, and one way connecting means between said sashes whereby afirst sash may be moved relative to the second in one direction and thesecond sash actuated in the opposite direction by moving said firstsash.

2. In a closure device, the combination 01 a window frame with a pair ofsashes, a row of shoulders carriedby an upper sash at each side adjacentthe lower sash, and latching devices carri'ed by the lower sash forsliding over said shoulders in one direct-ion and engaging certain ofsaid shoulders when moved in the opposite direction.

3. In a closure device,the combination of a window frame with a pair ofsashes, a row of shoulders carried by an upper sash at each sideadjacent the lower sash, and selective latching devices having a pawltor actuating the upper sash in either direction by moving the lowersash.

4. In a closure device, the combination of a window frame with a pair ofsashes, a row of shoulders carried by an upper sash at each sideadjacent the lower sash, selective latching devices having a pawl foractuating the upper sash in either direction by'moving the lower sash,means for locking said sashes in closed position, and operativeconnections between said locking means and said latching devices toactuate the latter by said locking means.

5. In a selective connecting device, the combination of a supportingmember, with a pair of latching members, and common means for projectingone of said latching members and yyithdrawing the other of said latchingmemers.

a support, a pair of engaging members carried by said support, resilientmeans for bias mg sald members toward one position and 6." In aselective connecting device, the com-V common means for releasing onemember and withdrawing the other.

8. In a latching device, the combination of a support, a pair ofengaging members carried by said support, resilient means for biasingsaid members toward one position and an actuating member comprising camsfor withdrawing either of said engaging members from said position.

9. In a latching device, the combination of a sheet metal casingcomprising '1 plate bent to form a guide with aliixing flanges, a secondguide mounted on said plate transverse to said first guide andconnnunicating therewith, an actuating member in said first guide. and apair of pearls in said second guide, said pawls and member havingcomplementary cam surfaces whereby said pawls are actuated by saidmember.

10. In a latching device, the combination of a sheet metal casingcomprising a plate bent to form a guide with aflixing flanges, a secondguide mounted on s aid plate transverse to said first guide andcommunicating therewith, an actuating member in said first guide, saidmember havin a slot therein, and a pawl having a slotadapted to slidablyreceive said member whereby said member is operative to projectsaidpawl.

11. In a selective latching device, the combinatien of supporting platehaving a guide formed therein with a second guide member carriedtransversely to said first guide, a pair of pawls slidably mounted insaid first guide, said pawls being notched to receive an actuatingmember, an actuating member having inclined camming surfaces for engaginsimi lar camming surfaces on said pawls and resilient means for biasingsaid pawls to a projected position whereby said actuating member isadapted to withdraw one of said pawls and to project the other when saidactuating member is moved in its guide.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day ofNovember, 1927.

KNUTE H. LINDGREN.

